Summary
Susan Monarez has become the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after being confirmed by the Senate. She is the first director to be confirmed under a new law and the first in over 70 years without a medical degree. Monarez has outlined her priorities, including restoring trust in the CDC, improving public health infrastructure, and ensuring clear communication during disease outbreaks.
Key Facts
- Susan Monarez was confirmed by the Senate as the new CDC director with a vote of 51-47.
- She is the first CDC director confirmed by the Senate under a 2023 law and the first in over 70 years without a medical degree.
- Monarez has experience as a microbiologist and immunologist and has served as acting director of the CDC earlier this year.
- She was chosen after the initial nominee, Dave Weldon, was withdrawn due to concerns about his views on vaccines.
- Monarez's priorities include restoring public trust in the CDC, modernizing public health systems, and preparing for future disease outbreaks.
- President Trump has proposed reducing the CDC's budget for the fiscal year 2026.
- Monarez has previous experience as the deputy director of ARPA-H, an agency focusing on health research.
- There is tension between traditional public health views and the administration's approach, under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who oversees federal health agencies.
